Chapter 08 – Zhou Yi

“Xiang Ning?” Director Lin only remembered that Xiang Ning couldn’t speak after the call was answered. He apologized, “I forgot you can’t talk right now. No need to respond, just listen to what I have to say.”

Xiang Ning tapped on his phone in acknowledgment.

“I have good news for you. Your song has been selected by the company for a very talented young artist,” Director Lin said with a smile, adding praise, “The kid hasn’t debuted yet this year but has great potential. Your song suits him perfectly.”

“I’ve reviewed your song before, and it’s flawless. Keep up the good work.”

Xiang Ning was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to share the news. He hurried downstairs, his shoes clattering against the floor.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Director Lin hung up. Xiang Ning gently knocked on the study door and peeked inside, seeing He Rong frowning at something.

Hearing the noise, He Rong looked up and gave him a tired smile, “What’s up?”

Too excited to notice much else, Xiang Ning eagerly presented his phone to He Rong, almost shoving it in his face.

“My song got selected!”

“I know,” He Rong said, putting down his pen and closing it. “Director Lin informed me. The singer is an artist the company plans to groom this year. He’s a good match for your song.”

Xiang Ning couldn’t help but smile shyly, suddenly realizing his behavior might have been impolite. He quickly wrote, “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” He Rong said, ruffling his hair before standing up. “Let’s eat. I had some dishes delivered.”

Xiang Ning had grown accustomed to He Rong’s occasional head pats and nodded, following him to the kitchen.

“Can you come with me to visit Grandma this afternoon?” He Rong asked casually, as if it were a trivial matter.

Xiang Ning hesitated for a moment before nodding, though his eating pace slowed, and he unconsciously bit his chopsticks. He Rong noticed and chuckled helplessly, “It’s okay, just like before.”

How could it be the same? Xiang Ning thought. Back then, he wasn’t Grandma He’s grandson-in-law…

Feeling uneasy, he only managed to finish one bowl before putting down his chopsticks. He excused himself and returned to his bedroom.

————

Grandma He had been recovering well recently.

She was visibly delighted to see Xiang Ning, holding his hand and chatting nonstop. He Rong parked the car and joined them. Grandma He’s eyes lit up, and she pulled him close, beaming, “Xiao Ning, this is Grandma’s grandson. Handsome, isn’t he?”

Xiang Ning blushed and nodded.

Grandma He was thrilled, holding both their hands and happily declaring, “Then Grandma will leave him in your care!”

He Rong was both amused and exasperated. He crouched by the wheelchair, supporting it, and said helplessly, “Grandma, he’s your grandson-in-law.”

“Oh!” Grandma He was surprised at first, then burst into laughter, repeatedly saying, “Good,” and placed their hands together, approvingly saying, “My grandson has good taste!”

Xiang Ning, too embarrassed to pull away, hid behind He Rong, his eyes darting around, avoiding the gaze of the grandmother and grandson.

He Rong seemed to notice his discomfort and subtly withdrew his hand, gently patting Grandma He’s hand before pushing the wheelchair back to her room.

“Where’s Ling Ling?” Grandma He tapped the wheelchair armrest in annoyance, “She hasn’t come to see me again. Next time, I won’t let her come home.”

“Mom’s on a business trip in City D,” He Rong said, bending down to carry Grandma He to the bed. Meanwhile, Xiang Ning had already prepared the blanket and took the medicine from the caregiver.

“This is nice,” Grandma He leaned back on the bed, squinting affectionately at Xiang Ning bustling around. After a while, she sighed and looked out the window, “Ling Ling hasn’t visited me in a long time.”

He Rong remained silent, taking the medicine from Xiang Ning and sitting by the bed, coaxing, “Grandma, take your medicine.”

“I don’t want to,” Grandma He avoided He Rong’s hand, her expression childishly stubborn. He Rong was at a loss, so Xiang Ning took the medicine from him, poured a glass of warm water, and handed it to Grandma He.

Grandma He looked up, saw it was Xiang Ning, and happily took it, swallowing the medicine in one go. Xiang Ning skillfully patted her back, and after a while, he secretly slipped a piece of candy into her hand.

The two shared a knowing smile. He Rong raised an eyebrow but said nothing. It wasn’t until they left after Grandma He fell asleep that he asked with a smile, “What was that?”

Xiang Ning didn’t understand at first, then realized and took another piece of candy from his pocket, placing it in He Rong’s hand. He took out his phone to explain:

“It’s candy I bought. It’s low in sugar, so it’s fine to have occasionally.”

He Rong nodded, unwrapped a piece, and put it in his mouth. He wasn’t used to sweets and initially frowned but quickly relaxed, saying to Xiang Ning, “Not bad.”

As if receiving great encouragement, Xiang Ning’s eyes curved in relief, and he nodded vigorously.

————

After the singer was confirmed, Director Lin called Xiang Ning to the recording studio for a meeting.

A curly-haired head was resting on the back of a chair. Hearing the noise, it first shrank back, then turned to meet Xiang Ning’s gaze.

Both were flustered, but Xiang Ning reacted first, nodding at the curly-haired head. The other responded with an awkward smile.

Fortunately, Director Lin arrived promptly, smiling at the scene, “Perfect timing. Xiang Ning, this is the singer, Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi, this is your lyricist and composer.”

Zhou Yi bowed to Xiang Ning first, saying softly, “Hello, Teacher Xiang.”

Xiang Ning instinctively wanted to bow back but managed to stop himself in time, accepting Zhou Yi’s bow.

Director Lin, noticing their discomfort, led them into the recording studio.

Zhou Yi sat in the recording booth and sang a few lines. Director Lin and Xiang Ning stood outside, and Director Lin smiled, “What do you think? Not bad, right?”

Xiang Ning nodded. Zhou Yi’s voice was clear and powerful, effortlessly hitting high notes, a stark contrast to his usually soft-spoken self. Director Lin nodded in satisfaction, patting the sound engineer’s shoulder, “How is it?”

“Easy,” the sound engineer gave a thumbs-up, lounging comfortably in his chair. Xiang Ning watched Zhou Yi, who was fully in his element on the other side of the glass, and smiled in agreement.

No one noticed his unease. Xiang Ning handed the pre-written materials to Director Lin and left first.

There was a bit of wind outside.

Xiang Ning wore a fisherman’s hat, looking as fresh as a high school student. He stood at the intersection waiting for the traffic light when a sharp pain shot through his calf. He turned to see an electric scooter had grazed him, and blood was quickly seeping from the wound.

The scooter rider apologized profusely. Unable to speak, Xiang Ning shook his head to indicate it was fine. The light turned green, and he took a few steps, but the searing pain forced him to limp awkwardly.

After finally crossing the intersection, Xiang Ning still had to limp to a spot where he could hail a taxi. He held his phone, unsure what to do, when a car honked and slowly followed him.

The rear window rolled down, and He Rong glanced at him, instructing the driver to pull over, “Get in.”

Xiang Ning hesitated but eventually got in through the door He Rong opened. His calf looked alarming, and He Rong frowned, pouring some mineral water to clean the wound, holding onto Xiang Ning’s restless leg, “Don’t move.”

Xiang Ning immediately froze.

He tried to stop He Rong from redirecting the driver to the hospital, but for once, He Rong seemed unable to understand his gestures, eventually closing his eyes to rest. Xiang Ning was both helpless and worried, fearing he was disrupting something important. He Rong sighed, “Nothing’s more important than your injury right now.”

After a while, He Rong looked at the now calm Xiang Ning and suddenly asked, “Are you upset?”

Xiang Ning was taken aback and instinctively shook his head.